Ocala's Internet cafes closing as new law now in effect

Published: Thursday, April 11, 2013 at 6:01 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, April 11, 2013 at 6:01 p.m.

Harry Simmes wasn't surprised there would be a rash of Ocala Internet cafe closings after Gov. Rick Scott on Wednesday signed a prohibition against the businesses. Simmes just didn't think it would happen this quickly.

At least half of the Internet cafes in Ocala were closed Thursday, less than 24 hours after Scott signed the rushed legislation that was aimed to end what many critics called storefront casinos.

"My God, we almost lived in this place," said the 76-year-old Simmes, standing near the Palms Internet Cafe entrance at Friendship Shopping Plaza on State Road 200. "I really enjoyed it."

Inside, the computers remained where they were the day before, but the business was dark and a single sheet of paper with the word "Closed" written and taped to the glass front door. No one appeared to be inside.

Simmes sometimes went to the cafe four or five times a week. More recently, maybe two or three times weekly.

"We'd sit there for half an hour and spend $20 and leave again. I have a lot of feelings about (the closing)," said the Saddle Oak resident.

"Now I'm going to have to find something else to do. Probably Saddle Oak bingo … and I think we'll see a lot bigger crowd now," he said.

Meanwhile, Chief Assistant State Attorney Ric Ridgway said his office was still determining how to handle violators if some stores remain open. It's possible business owners may be given warnings that they are breaking the law before arrests are made.

Ridgway said his office works with 30 separate law enforcement agencies, some of which have contacted him about what to do if they find Internet cafes still operating.

"I tell them, ‘Hold on a minute,' " he said.

Some of the Internet cafes may be closing so soon because the businesses that supplied their computer servers — which operated the slot machine-like computers — appear to be closing down those server connections, Ridgway said.

"So a lot will wither and go away on their own because they've lost their servers. The rest we'll have to deal with as they come up," Ridgway said.

"If there's a violation of the law, we will prosecute," he said, but added that his advice to law enforcement is not "to go out there and look for these businesses."

Ridgway said one of the problems was that the businesses were predominately cash industries, and that made them ripe for criminal activity.

For the past few years the cafes have gotten around Florida's gambling laws by calling what they offer to patrons "sweepstakes" — much like getting a Monopoly scratch-off card at McDonald's when you buy a hamburger.

The Internet cafe industry said its patrons were not gambling. The cafe sells its patrons time on the Internet and as part of the sale, customers are given a ticket. The ticket gives the customer a chance to win any number of games that appear on the computer screens.

The software for the games looks nearly identical to slot machine games, and customers have the chance to win cash or coupon prizes.

In late 2010, the State Attorney's Office dropped a criminal case against an owner and manager of an Internet cafe in Ocala, saying the agency needed more clarification on the state's gambling law.

Before that, a circuit judge tossed out a similar case against the business owner for lack of evidence.

The new law essentially bans the computers that the Internet cafes use, Ridgway said, putting an end to any ambiguity in the law.

The law was pushed through the Legislature after an investigation and raids last month at Internet cafes across Florida, which led to the arrest of 57 people. The event also led to the resignation of Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll, who had done some consulting work for the charity Allied Veterans of the World that was involved in the scandal. Investigators claim the cafes were used in a money laundering and racketeering scheme.

"I'm glad it's closed," said Joe Paulik outside the Palms cafe. "People should give their money to charities rather than gambling. None of these businesses lose money. The odds are against you.

"I hope they close them all. Maybe (the patrons) will do a little more walking than just sitting down and gambling all day," he said.

Also closed was the Six Gun Plaza Internet Cafe on Silver Springs Boulevard.

The 14th Street Plaza Internet Cafe was also closed, having as recently as March posted new hours of operation, keeping the business open until midnight. The store was dark on Thursday but for the blinking lights of the ATM and soda machines inside.

Rick Kinkead recently signed a lease for a former restaurant next to the Pine Internet Cafe on Pine Avenue. He's happy the cafe is closed.

"It's absolutely your money but you're entering into an arena where usually the house wins," he said.

During the past few years the number of Internet cafes grew exponentially.

"It's been like an infection," Kinkead said. "Generally speaking we're a working man's town. Take that money and find some way to enrich yourself … Don't give it to (Internet cafes)."

<p>Harry Simmes wasn't surprised there would be a rash of Ocala Internet cafe closings after Gov. Rick Scott on Wednesday signed a prohibition against the businesses. Simmes just didn't think it would happen this quickly.</p><p>At least half of the Internet cafes in Ocala were closed Thursday, less than 24 hours after Scott signed the rushed legislation that was aimed to end what many critics called storefront casinos.</p><p>"My God, we almost lived in this place," said the 76-year-old Simmes, standing near the Palms Internet Cafe entrance at Friendship Shopping Plaza on State Road 200. "I really enjoyed it."</p><p>Inside, the computers remained where they were the day before, but the business was dark and a single sheet of paper with the word "Closed" written and taped to the glass front door. No one appeared to be inside.</p><p>Simmes sometimes went to the cafe four or five times a week. More recently, maybe two or three times weekly.</p><p>"We'd sit there for half an hour and spend $20 and leave again. I have a lot of feelings about (the closing)," said the Saddle Oak resident.</p><p>"Now I'm going to have to find something else to do. Probably Saddle Oak bingo … and I think we'll see a lot bigger crowd now," he said.</p><p>Meanwhile, Chief Assistant State Attorney Ric Ridgway said his office was still determining how to handle violators if some stores remain open. It's possible business owners may be given warnings that they are breaking the law before arrests are made.</p><p>Ridgway said his office works with 30 separate law enforcement agencies, some of which have contacted him about what to do if they find Internet cafes still operating.</p><p>"I tell them, 'Hold on a minute,' " he said.</p><p>Some of the Internet cafes may be closing so soon because the businesses that supplied their computer servers — which operated the slot machine-like computers — appear to be closing down those server connections, Ridgway said.</p><p>"So a lot will wither and go away on their own because they've lost their servers. The rest we'll have to deal with as they come up," Ridgway said.</p><p>"If there's a violation of the law, we will prosecute," he said, but added that his advice to law enforcement is not "to go out there and look for these businesses."</p><p>Ridgway said one of the problems was that the businesses were predominately cash industries, and that made them ripe for criminal activity.</p><p>For the past few years the cafes have gotten around Florida's gambling laws by calling what they offer to patrons "sweepstakes" — much like getting a Monopoly scratch-off card at McDonald's when you buy a hamburger.</p><p>The Internet cafe industry said its patrons were not gambling. The cafe sells its patrons time on the Internet and as part of the sale, customers are given a ticket. The ticket gives the customer a chance to win any number of games that appear on the computer screens.</p><p>The software for the games looks nearly identical to slot machine games, and customers have the chance to win cash or coupon prizes.</p><p>In late 2010, the State Attorney's Office dropped a criminal case against an owner and manager of an Internet cafe in Ocala, saying the agency needed more clarification on the state's gambling law.</p><p>Before that, a circuit judge tossed out a similar case against the business owner for lack of evidence.</p><p>The new law essentially bans the computers that the Internet cafes use, Ridgway said, putting an end to any ambiguity in the law.</p><p>The law was pushed through the Legislature after an investigation and raids last month at Internet cafes across Florida, which led to the arrest of 57 people. The event also led to the resignation of Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll, who had done some consulting work for the charity Allied Veterans of the World that was involved in the scandal. Investigators claim the cafes were used in a money laundering and racketeering scheme.</p><p>"I'm glad it's closed," said Joe Paulik outside the Palms cafe. "People should give their money to charities rather than gambling. None of these businesses lose money. The odds are against you.</p><p>"I hope they close them all. Maybe (the patrons) will do a little more walking than just sitting down and gambling all day," he said.</p><p>Also closed was the Six Gun Plaza Internet Cafe on Silver Springs Boulevard.</p><p>The 14th Street Plaza Internet Cafe was also closed, having as recently as March posted new hours of operation, keeping the business open until midnight. The store was dark on Thursday but for the blinking lights of the ATM and soda machines inside.</p><p>Rick Kinkead recently signed a lease for a former restaurant next to the Pine Internet Cafe on Pine Avenue. He's happy the cafe is closed.</p><p>"It's absolutely your money but you're entering into an arena where usually the house wins," he said.</p><p>During the past few years the number of Internet cafes grew exponentially.</p><p>"It's been like an infection," Kinkead said. "Generally speaking we're a working man's town. Take that money and find some way to enrich yourself … Don't give it to (Internet cafes)."</p><p><i>Contact Fred Hiers at 867-4157 or fred.hiers.starbanner.com.</i></p>